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CULTURE OF INCLUSION

PATHS-UP is committed to enriching and maintaining a culture of inclusive (CoI) excellence by acknowledging, educating, appreciating, and nurturing diversity, uniqueness, and belongingness to minimize bias and maximize the effectiveness of the PATHS-UP enterprise.

FIU is hosting an REU program for undergraduate students from underrepresented minorities. Students in this program will work side by side with FIU faculty and graduate students on projects that will have a direct impact on their communities. Through our outreach programs, and using the modules developed by our RET program, we will encourage high school students from our underserved and underrepresented communities to participate in the summer scholars program and ultimately to pursue STEM careers.

Integrated throughout all aspects of FIU’s PATHS-UP ERC effort, workshops and seminars will be offered to our faculty, staff, and REU/RET participants that emphasize the importance of diversity and cultural awareness.

CULTURE OF INCLUSION ACTIVITIES

PATHSUP Solidworks Workshop, October 2018

PATHSUP fellows, Andres and Mel, gave a Solidworks workshop open to all FIU students. The basics of the software, which is widely used in engineering fields, were taught.

Miami Dolphins STEM Day, October 2018

Middle and high school students arrived at the Hard Rock Stadium where PATHSUP and other organizations showcase ongoing projects and interact with students from underserved populations encouraging STEM education. Andres, Mel and Mariacarla spoke to students about PATHSUP goals and current projects.

FIU Culture of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, June 2018

Dr. Sonja Montas-Hunter spoke on the topics of equity, diversity and inclusion and how important they are to innovation and productivity.

Here are some of the topics covered.
Definitions and Elements
Linked to greater innovation, productivity, and retention
Different perspectives, accepting differences, and collaboration
Understanding equity - diversity doesn’t mean equal opportunities
Create balances
Balance out the opportunities
Systemic issues - implicit biases, microaggressions, and racism
Equity is needed in order to achieve equality
Everyone has to do the same amount of work
Unconscious biases
Social stereotypes
Tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing
Microaggressions
Statement or actions of indirect or subtle or unintentional discrimination
Cultural competency
Leadership development - helps to connect with others
Survey community
How does equity affect your programming?
NSF’s statement on broadening participation in STEM
Inclusiveness as one of its core values
Self-awareness - recognize your own biases and be open to viewpoints outside of our own

FIU HWCOM Community Fair, May 2018

This student-led event was set to help out the residents of Little Haiti. Medical students provided physical check-ups that tested their BP, Glucose, and BMI levels. Amongst the medical students that collaborated through FIU’s NeighborhoodHELP, other health professionals such as soon to be physical therapists, nurses, and dentists came out to share awareness about healthy nutrition, proper walking gait, and dental health. PATHSUP fellows shared with the youth the perks of studying science, especially when applied to health, by passing out pamphlets and word-of-mouth information about FIU's College of Engineering programs.

Participants:200

STEM Saturdays at Liberty City Elementary, May 2018

Collaborating with the non-profit organization, Dibia Dream, this event demonstrated and produced a series of experiments, which taught young students of Liberty City about the physical phenomena of density, buoyancy, concentration, and electromotive force. While working with sugar solution, PATHSUP fellow Andres took the advantage of explaining the influence of sugar on the body and how it can lead to diseases like type II diabetes and obesity.

Participants:40

Engineering Expo, February 2018

Students from Miami-Dade County schools came to FIU engineering campus to learn about engineering and topics in engineering. We showcased our projects and spoke about the importance of STEM education.

Participants:200

Here are Angie, Mel and Andres showing an optical system designed for PATHS-UP.

STEM basketball game, January 2018

Elementary students of underrepresented populations from different Miami-Dade County schools came to FIU to watch a basketball game and learn about STEM. Our team set up outside the arena to talk to the groups and showcase some of the existing projects and their significance.

Participants:100

An afternoon with high school students, December 2017

A group of students from Ronald Reagan Senior High visited FIU MMC to tour the lab and have a projects showcase.

Participants:15

Engineering Fair with City of Miami Gardens, December 2017

Elementary school students from City of Miami Gardens, a community with underserved population, will be showcasing their science projects on FIU campus. The PATHS-UP fellows will give feedback and engage with these students to encourage the pursual of STEM in their future.